Reborn in 1981: My Life as a Fisherman

In those days, construction site sheds were very rudimentary.

The frame was made of bamboo, and the walls were covered with reed mats made of interlaced bamboo strips, allowing for ventilation and light.

Only the top was covered with asbestos tiles, and even those asbestos tiles from that era were crudely made.

It is completely incomparable to the cement and asbestos tiles of later generations.

Modern asbestos roofing tiles are primarily made of gypsum, making them very brittle.

"I really didn't expect you to actually come looking for me, but this job is very tiring."

The riverbank embankment is made of large slabs of stone; laborers carry the stones for eight cents a day…

Yang Guangming led Shi Hailong into the work shed or similar structure.

They were still talking as they walked.

Shi Hailong could tell from the implication that the person was afraid he wouldn't be able to endure the hardship.

Shi Hailong looked around the workers' shed, where there was a long, open-plan sleeping area and a strong, unpleasant smell.

He laughed and said, "Brother Guangming, I just came to take a look. Even if you don't say it, I know that with my small frame, I probably can't do it."

I've been wandering around the county town for the past couple of days. I came to find you because I was thinking that I'd finally found a place to stay here..."

Yang Guangming sat down on the communal bed, took out a cigarette, and gestured to Shi Hailong.

Shi Hailong could tell at a glance that this guy was just being polite.

So I just took it.

Yang Guangming was taken aback. "When did you learn to smoke?"

"Give it to me and I'll give it a try..."

In his previous life, Shi Hailong quit smoking when he was in his early fifties.

I don't plan to smoke again in my life, but I know that people come and go in this day and age.

I really can't live without cigarettes.

If you don't smoke, you're less effective at socializing.

It's not that you can just pack a pack of cigarettes and offer them to people and expect everyone to smoke.

If you don't smoke, people will subconsciously think that you're not one of them.

It's like a group of people going to a bathhouse. Everyone else goes up to the second floor, but you don't. Then, those people will distance themselves from you.

Yang Guangming laughed and took out another cigarette, then lit it with a match.

They also lit it for Shi Hailong, but Shi Hailong just wasted it and didn't inhale it into his lungs.

Yang Guangming exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "You can come and stay for a few days. Food and lodging are no problem."

But be careful wandering around the city; there are too many petty thugs and hooligans.

Shi Hailong nodded. "I know. I'll be careful and won't cause any trouble."

Yang Guangming nodded, glanced at the construction site not far away, and said:

"Now that production is contracted out to individual households and projects are divided into groups, I think it would be better for you to go on a ship than to come here and do this kind of work."

"If you catch a good sea voyage, you can make over ten dollars a month..."

When he ran into Shi Hailong last time he went home, he just mentioned it casually and didn't really mean to ask Shi Hailong to do these chores.

It was really too hard and tiring.

Many young people come here, carry large stones for a few days, and then can't take it anymore and run away.

His shoulders were peeling and swollen.

This isn't something you do occasionally; it's something you do all day long. A piece weighing over 100 or 200 pounds is normal.

If it weren't for his uncle being the deputy station chief of the construction station, which allowed him to become a junior accountant and time recorder, he would have been in a similar position.

He couldn't handle it either.

After chatting for a while, Yang Guangming went to the construction site.

Shi Hailong wasn't planning to go shopping today; he just wanted to catch up on some sleep on the shared bed.

Although the smell in the shed was indescribable, he could bear it.

Besides, they're used to the smell of fish and other fishy odors, so they have a high tolerance for them.

This shed is actually quite good; at least it's well-ventilated.

If you're on a fishing boat in the open sea, the rest cabin is a nightmare for the crew.

After taking a nap, I woke up to find myself eating communal meals with Yang Guangming.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Yang Guangming took him for a walk around the neighborhood.

The two chatted for a while, and Shi Hailong took the opportunity to say, "Brother Guangming, before I came, I went to your house to ask for your address."

Your mother said she's going to send a matchmaker to my house to propose marriage for you, and you might become my brother-in-law in the future...

"Ah..." Yang Guangming was stunned, seemingly unable to react for a moment.

But he quickly showed his delight, only to hide it just as soon as possible.

"real?"

Shi Hailong nodded, and Yang Guangming immediately put his arm around Shi Hailong's shoulder.

"Come on, your brother-in-law will treat you to a soda, and oh, and I'll buy you a pack of cigarettes too..."

Shi Hailong was also surprised that Yang Guangming's attitude changed so quickly.

He's practically my brother-in-law now.

It seems that Yang Guangming had long harbored feelings for the eldest sister.

Shi Hailong didn't refuse; he drank the soda and took the cigarettes—that was his attitude.

This also reassured Yang Guangming that his brother-in-law supported and approved of the relationship.

There's no need for feigned politeness; we need to get this done as soon as possible.

It changed my older sister's life.

The following morning, Shi Hailong got up with the workers and had breakfast.

Then he told Yang Guangming and left alone.

Yang Guangming was still not at ease, so he gave a few more instructions.

Little did they know that Shi Hailong was experienced and had some impression of the county town.

Of course, my memory is a bit hazy, but I can slowly recall it after seeing the place.

The county town today is a world apart from what it will be like decades later.

Shi Hailong also gradually figured it out and his memory became clearer.

He went directly to a suburban area.

That place was the distribution center for smuggled goods in this county in the previous life.

It's still in a semi-public, unregulated state, but it won't last much longer.

The past few years have been a period of great efforts to combat smuggling.

The same applies to maritime anti-smuggling operations; the goal is to cut off the channels.

However, smuggling crimes have gone from being overt to covert, and have always been difficult to eradicate.

When I arrived at the location, as expected, the street was still there, and it was bustling with people.

The streets were lined with mountains and farmland, and a market suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Shi Hailong slowly entered the area, where various goods were displayed on both sides of the road.

Watches, tape recorders, nylon umbrellas, cassette tapes, electric sewing machines, nylon mosquito nets, parkas...

Electric fan, television, camera, cigarettes...

Leather jackets, clothes, skirts, pants, colorful fabrics...

Shi Hailong casually touched a piece of cloth, and the stylishly dressed young salesman began to introduce it.

"This is polyester serge material. Feel it. It has a twill pattern and comes in several colors: gray, blue, and chestnut. It's only 7.5 yuan per meter."

Moreover, they are all double-width, much wider than the cotton cloth from the supply and marketing cooperative…”

Goodness, the same fabric that costs fifteen yuan at the supply and marketing cooperative is only seven yuan and fifty cents here.

No wonder the supply and marketing cooperatives can't sell their products...

Shi Hailong looked at it again and laughed, "No money..."

The stylish young man immediately stopped smiling and stopped looking at Shi Hailong.

Shi Hailong walked up to a watch stall; he really wanted to buy a watch.

Ideally, it should be waterproof with a calendar, which will make it very convenient for future sea voyages.

I squatted down and took a closer look. The stall owner was also a young man, dressed in a fashionable way.

However, this stall owner only glanced at Shi Hailong and did not offer any introduction.

It's probably because Shi Hailong's clothes are too old-fashioned and he looks too young; he doesn't look like someone who could take out a hundred or two hundred yuan.

However, Shi Hailong still inquired about the prices of several watches.

The Titlis watch with a calendar costs 110.

Red Leaf brand: 100; Plum Blossom brand: 85.

Semi-automatic or non-automatic Ma brand, Eagle brand, Lotus brand, etc., range from thirty to sixty yuan.

Shi Hailong has his eye on the Titlis watch with a calendar, but he doesn't know how waterproof it is.

At this moment, he felt a little regretful, wishing he had brought more silver dollars.

It's not easy to come to the county town during this period, so it's good to be able to exchange some more money to have on hand.

Just in case, better safe than sorry.

As long as you don't show off or mindlessly flaunt your wealth, you should be fine.

Tibetan silver dollars and Tibetan banknotes are the same.

But having extra cash on hand and keeping it hidden can be very useful in a critical moment.

But it's too late to regret it now.

Watches and compasses are still essential for going out to sea.

Of course, once you buy a watch, you can't wear it on your wrist; you can only hide it inside your clothes.

Shi Hailong stood up without making a sound, and did not rush to sell the silver coins.

We came here today to observe the situation first.

He didn't bring the silver dollars with him, but hid them under Yang Guangming's bed.

Let me browse around first, and then discreetly inquire about the exchange rate...